Rossing machine



Dec. 15, 1942. J. D. TAYLOR ETAL ROSSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l O riginal Filed July 7, 1937 km N1 6 J r N w a n W F I Q m m m n Z a A o 1 v v k A d w Q w MW Qm. 2 fi I 1 NN Hr mm hN Q gum Nwn Q1 .rliwwhwf M Q 5% AW WW .m.N\ h MN .wm wN w 3 a m RN Q z 1 QRN Mo, 9%

. Dec. 15, 1942. J TAYLOR 2,305,281

ROSSING MACHINE Original Filed July 7, 1937 5 Shee'ts-She'et 2 I Inuenzns I I .j amezs Z IczyZor W'aZZace I fined Dec. 15,1942. J. D. TAYLOR ETAL 2,305,231

aossm'e MACHINE Original Fi led July 7, 1937 v 5 Sheets-She et 4 Jimes .D. Ta yZor Wa Ziace .27. Jnes Dec. 15, 1942. J. D. TAYLOR ET AL ROSSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Original Filed July 7, I937 J72 verz for. A

1 I44 ll Illkl ll Il m hIIl I'Hv l fi aila are I fines I ttor'ngyd Jizmes Z- Z Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STAT ES PATE NT OFFICE ROSSING MACHINE James D. Taylor, Spartanburg, S. 0., :and Wallace E. Jones, Raleigh, N.,C.,-assignors to Tay lor-Colquitt 00., Spartanburg, 8.0., a'co'rporation of South Carolina ruary 4, I941.

Divided and this application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,304

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to pole rossing machines and is a division of our copending application Serial No. 152,461, filed July '7, 1937, for Rossing machine issued as Patent No.- 2,230,336 on February 4, 1941.

An object of the invention is the provision of a pivoted and balanced cutter support carrying a cutter head on one side of the pivot and a motor on the other side, these elements being so balanced that the cutter head may be initially moved into operative contact with a pole to be rossed Without any cutting pressure being applied to the cutter head. Thereafter, a gradually increasing spring presure isadapted to be applied to the cutter head to hold the latter in operative cutting position against the pole to be rossed.

A further object is the provision of means for adjusting the motor on its support to insure perfect balancing of the cutter head and motor at all times.

Another object is the provision of an adjustable mechanism carried by the cutter head for determining the depth of cut, said mechanism including pole engaging shoes which may be easily and quickly removed when worn and replaced with new shoes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will now be more fully'described,

reference being had to the accompanying draw- :1

ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the .pole rossing machine.

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the end of the machine into which the poles are fed.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the end of the machine from which the poles are discharged.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pivot for the wheel support.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 56 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a section taken on line l! of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the shoe adjusting means.

Figure 9 is a section taken ure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail of the springs and telescoping member secured to the cutter support.

Figure 11 is a section taken on line Hll of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the machine showing a polein the process of being rossed and on line 9--9 of Fig the buggies for supporting .the ends of the .pole, and

Figure 13 is an end elevation of one ofthe buggies.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and '12,"'the 'numera1 1T0 designates a rossing machine through which logs or poles are adapted to be fed for the purpose of removing bark. Each pole is fed'to the machine upon a pair of buggies or trucks and I2 and as the rossing operation progresses, the deb'arked end of thepole is gradually moved over and finally supported upon a second pair of buggiesl3 and 14. The function and use of each of these buggies will be described in more detail further on inthe'specification. p

The rossing machine comprises a base or'frame l5 upon which are mounted pole rotating and feeding means and a plurality of cutters for giving first a roughing cut and then afinishing cut to the pole as it passes through the machine. The

.pole rotating and feeding 'means comprises -a pair of wheels 16 and I1 respectively Which may be formed of cast iron or any other suitable materia1 and each wheel is provided with a solid rubber tire It for providing maximum traction surface during the pole rotating and feeding operation. The wheels 16 and I1 are journaled in the side walls I8 of a casing 20and are positioned in alignment witheach other with their axes in parallel and "non-movable relation with "respect to each other. I

The casing 20 is provided with end walls 2|, which with the side walls partially house the wheels 16 .and 11. The base 22 of the casing is provided with a centrally disposed opening tin which is fitted a bearing 23 and this bearing cooperates with a king pin 24 mounted on the frame [5 to permit limited rotation of the casing and wheels'on the frame. I The frame is also provided with spaced rails 25 which 'suppor't'opposite ends of the casing 20 and upon which the casingrides when it is moved about'its pivot. One side of the casing 20 is extended to provide a transmission support 26. The transmission comprises an electric motor "21 and reduction gearing 28 through which power is transmitted to the wheel'lB by way of shaft 29. The motor 21 and gearing 28 may be of any desired construction and is merely shown diagrammatically in the drawings. Power is transmitted to the other wheel I1 by a belt or sprocket 30.

With this arrangement, power from themotor 21 will rotate the wheels 16 and I! and 'by reason of the belt 30 both wheels Will rotate the the nut 32partially projects.

'lateral movement.

same direction and at the same speed. Moreover, it will be observed that the king pin 24 is positioned directly in alignment with the wheels I6 and I1 and at a point midway between the axes of the wheels. This arrangement is necessary in order to properly adjust the wheels to take care of poles or logs of different diameters. is, in order to impart a feeding action, as well as a rotating motion to the poles, it is necessary that the wheels be moved about the pivot point 24 out of perpendicular alignment with the poles. With poles of substantially largediameters the wheels need only be adjusted slightly out of their perpendicular position, since a very slow feeding action is required to obtain the desired out. It will be apparent that poles of relatively small diameter must necessarily be fed through the machine at a greater speed than poles of large diameter, since it requires less time for the cutters to remove bark during .on revolution of a pole of small diameter than it does of poles of greater diameter. In the case of poles of small diameter, therefore, the Wheels will be adjusted to a greater inclination to the perpendicular in order to speed up the rate of feed of the pole through the machine.

To permit the adjustment of the wheels to be made with relative ease and without considerable loss of time, such as would be necessary with a manual operation, the present machine is provided with a motorized means for the angular setting oradjustment of the wheels l6 and IT. This means comprises a threaded shaft 3| (see Figures 1 and 11), extending substantially horizontally of and slightly above the base of the frame It. One

end of this shaft passes through a threaded :opening in a block 32 which is pivotally mounted in brackets 33 secured to a wall of the transmis- "sion support 25. These brackets are positioned on opposite sides of an opening 34 through which The inner end of the shaft 3| passes through the opening 34 and terminates within the support 26. The outer end of the shaft 3| is journaled in a bracket 35 and has secured to its extreme outer end a gear wheel 36 forming one element of a reduction gearing 31. This gearing connects the shaft 3| with the shaft of an electric motor 38, said motor being suitably supported upon a platform 39 carried at the upper end of the bracket 35.

' When it is desired to adjust the angular setting of the wheels l3 and I1 to accommodate different 'size's'of poles, the motor 38 is started and this imparts power through the reduction gearing 31 to shaft 3| which is slowly rotated. By reason of the threaded engagement between the inner end of the shaft and the nut 32, the latter rides on the shaft and thus moves the support 26 and casing about the pivot of the king pin 24. This in turn adjusts the wheels to th desired angular position to accommodate the pole which is to be fed through the machine. It will be observed that the movement of the support 26 and nut 32 necessarily changes the axis of the shaft 3| and 'for this reason the shaft cannot be rigidly mounted on the frame, but must be capable of a slight This is taken care of by securing a socket 40 to the frame It and providing the bracket 35 with a stub axle 4| fitting into the socket, thereby permitting rotation of the brackmachine by the wheels l6 and the bark is re- I moved therefrom first by a cutter 42 which gives That a 'a substantially tubular member 41 to one end of which the cutter head is swivelly mounted, while the other end of the tubular member is rigidly connected to a motor housing 48. A motor 49 for operating the cutter is slidably supported upon a plate 50 fixed to the housing 48. The plate 50 is provided with sets of front and rear aligned slots 56. Suitable front and rear bolts 59" are connected to opposite sides of the motor base and extend through the slots 59'. A cross bar 52 connects the front bolts 55'? and is provided with a threaded opening to receive a threaded rod 5|. This rod is journalled against longitudinal movement in the front of the casing 43 and is connected to an operatinghandle 53. By operating the handle 53, the rod 5| is rotated and the cross bar 52 is moved, and in turn slides the motor 49 on the plate 5! With this arrangement 'the motor may be adjusted with respect to the tubular member 41 and the cutter head 44 so that the whole cutting unit may be perfectly balanced about the pivot 45. As a further means for balancing the cutter support, there is provided a shot bin or ballast box 54 carried by the housing 48 directly below the plate 59 and adapted to contain any suitabl ballast 55. i

Referring to Figures 6 and '7, the cutter head 44 comprises a casing for housing a rotatable cutter 56 which is adapted to be positioned longitudinally of the pole or log during the cutting operation. This casing is provided with side plates 51 having aligned openings for receiving the shouldered portions 58 of bearing housings 59, each housing being designed to accommodate a bearing 69. The cutter 5B is provided at one end with a stub shaft 6| journaled in one of the bearings, while a stub axle 62 is journaled in the other bearing and has secured to its outer end a pulley 33. Power is transmitted from the shaft of the motor 49 to the cutter 56 by suitable belting 64 engaging the pulley 63.

In order that the cutters may compensate for irregularities in the log or pole being operated on, each cutter head is swivelly mounted on the end of its tubular supporting element 41. This is accomplished by providing a stub shaft 65 rigidly secured to the rear wall of the cutter head and projecting into th tubular member 47. The outer end of the shaft 65 i journaled in a roller bearing 66 housed within the tubular member, while the inner end of the shaft is provided with a grooved collar 61 retained in position Within the tubular element by one or more set screws 68. With this arrangement each cutter head and cutter is permitted to rotate on an axis transverse to the axis of the tubular support 41 and thus is capable of compensating for any irregularities in the pole being operated on.

Means are provided to adjust the cutter head and cutter with respect to a pole passing through the machine to determine the depth of cut to be made. This means comprises a pair of spaced adjusting elements 69, each of which is secured to a plate 18 which is in turn secured to and constitutes a part of the bearing housing 58. Any suitable means, such as the threaded bolts 1| may be utilized to secure these members in operative position. Each adjusting element comprises a pair of spaced bars 12 located on opposite sides of the axis "of the cutter 56 and connected at their upper ends by a cross bar I3. Each bar I2 is undercut on its inner surface to provide a guide slot I4 and a shoe supporting plate 75 is slidably mounted within the guides and is provided on each side with longitudinally extending flanges "I6 movable in the recessed portions 14. To the lower end of the plate I is secured a pole engaging shoe TI and this is detachably connected to the plate by bolts I8 to permit replacement of the shoe after being worn out.

The upper edge of the plate It extends diagonally from side to side and is provided with a transversely extending groove 79 cooperating with a rib or tongue 99 on a block 8i to form an interlocking or interfitting connection between the block and plate. The block 9i is provided with an off-set boss 82 having a threaded opening through which projects the threaded shank of a spindle 83. This spindle is suitably journaledin the upper end of the adjusting "element 69 and is provided with a handle 94 projecting outwardly from one side of the cutter head. When it is desired to adjust each set of shoes TI with respect to its cutter head and cutter to determine the depth of out, it is merely necessary to actuate the handle 99, thereby rotating'the spindle 83. This operation moves the block ill on the spindle transversely of th eadjusting element and by reason-of theint-erfitting engagement between the block and plate, the plate I5 will be moved longitudinally of the cutter and thereby raise or lower the shoe I! with respect to the cutter and cutter head.

In order that each shoe may be locked in adjusted position, the spindle 83 adjacent the handle 84 is squared as at 85. Mounted on the cutter head at this point is a 'spring pressedplunger 89 having a head 8'! normally urged into contact with one of the squared surfaces '85 of the spindle to lock the latter against rotation. It will be-apparent that with the spindle locked in this position there can be no transverse movement 'of the block BI and thus each'shoe is positively retained in each of its adjusted positions.

It will be observed that on each cutter head the right hand set of pla'tes'19 and I5 (see Figures -6, 7 and 8), are substantially solid in construction due to the fact that the stub shaft 9| terminates interiorly of the plates. With respect to the plates on the left hand side of the cutter head, as viewed in these figures, the plate 19 is provided with an opening surrounding the stub axle 62, while the shoe supporting plate 75 is provided with a cut out portion forming spaced legs 88 which straddle thestubshaft't2 'and'thus permit the plate I5 to move longitudinally in the adjusting element 69.

Referring now to Figures 1 to '4, it will be observed that the cutter heads 42 and '43 are mounted side by side and by reason of the shaft 46 about which the supports 45pivot, the cutter heads may be raised and lowered into and out of operative engagement with the poles asthey pass through the rossing machine. Because of the balanced arrangement of the supports 45, each head may be moved into engagement with the .pole without pressure beingeapplied'through the cutter head to the pole. Means are provided to move each head into this initial position of contact with the pole and then to subsequently apply a gradual spring pressure to the head and cutter to hold the latter against the pole during the putting-operation. This means comprises a pair of hand levers 89, 99, respectively, the former for actuating the cutter head 42 and the latter .the cutter head 43. The handles are suitably mounted in brackets 9| carried by the frame I5 and each bracket is provided with a quadrant 92 havinging-teeth 93 which cooperate with a pawl 94 to maintain its lever in any one of a number of difierent positions. The lever 39 is pivotally connected to a cross link 95 which in turn is pivotally connected to a depending arm 96 rigidly mounted upon a cross shaft 91 extending across and journaled in suitable bearings in the frame. A second arm 98 also rigidly connected to the shaft 9'! is associated with the tubular element 41 of the cutter head 42 by a combination spring and telescoping connection 99. Referring to Figure 10 it will be observed that one of the telescoping elements I99 is pivotally connected to the outer free end of the arm 98, while the other element I9I is pivotally connected to a bracket I92 secured to the underside of the tubular member 51. In this View the element I99 is telescoped within the element IM and the elements are normally retained in telescoped relation by means of the coil springs I93. These springs are mounted upon upper and lower rods I94 and I95 respectively, the upper one being carried by the bracket I92, while the lower one is mounted in the arm 99. In this view a pair of springs are positioned on opposite sides of the telescoping members I99 and I9I and extend substantially parallel thereto.

The combination of the springs I93 and the telescoping elements I99 and I9I provide a positlve operating connection between the cutter support 45 and the arm 98. In the movement of the cutter head-42 to and from its operative position, the springs will maintain the elements I99 and E9! in telescoped'position, so that they constitute a solid pivoted link, cooperating to positively move the cutter into and out of engagement with a pole. At the same time, just as soon as the cutter has been moved into contact with a pole, the telescoping members will lose their function as a positive operating connection and permit expansion of the springs to apply a gradually increasing tension upon the pole through the cutter head.

With this arrangement, and assuming that the cutter head 42 is to be moved into operative position, the handle 89 is first moved forwardly. This will move the link rearwardly, and the arm 98 downwardly, rotating the shaft 91. The arm 98 being rigidly mounted on the shaft will move downwardly and by reason of the connection 99, will move the balanced cutter support 45 about its pivot and bring the cutter head 42 and the cutter 5?; into contact with the pole I95.

Because of the balanced arrangement, no pressure will be applied to the pole upon. initial contact'therewith of the cutter head and cutter. However, upon further actuation of the handle 99 the springs will be expanded and will apply a gradually increasing tension upon the pole through the cutter head. The handle will be actuated suificiently to maintain a continued spring tension on the cutter during the cutting operation. It is to be understood that before the handle 89 is actuated, the shoes Ill will have een adjusted to determine the depth of cut desired. The downward movement of the arm 98 is such that the telescoping elements will not become disengaged. That is, the spring pressure such as to require a movement sufficient to uncouple the elements I00 and IUI.

With respect to the cutter 43, the same spring connection 99 is utilized as above described and the lower end of this element is connected toan arm I37 which is rigidly secured to a sleeve I08 mounted on the shaft 91 and capable of rotating relative thereto. A second arm I09 corresponding to the arm 96 is rigidly secured to the sleeve I88 and is connected to the handle 98 by a cross link IIU corresponding to the link 95. With this structure the finishing cutter head 43 may be moved into and out of operative position in a manner similar to that described with respect to the cutter head 42.

Referring to Figure 12, and assuming that it is desired to pass a log or pole through the machine Iil to remove the bark therefrom, the pole I05 is initially supported upon the trucks or buggies II and I2 which are movable over the track III. The buggy II is provided with an upright frame H2 within which are amounted a pair of pole supporting wheels H3. The truck I2 is provided with an upright bracket H4 rigidly mounted thereon and a pole supporting arm H5 pivotally mounted on the frame to swing from the dotted line to the full line position. The arm H5 is normally maintained in the dotted line position by means of a pair of latches H6. These latches are rigidly mounted upon opposite ends of a cross shaft II'I pivotally mounted in the bracket H4 with the latches positioned on the outside of the bracket and engaging the angle iron H8 extending across the pole supporting arm H5.

cross shaft I 51, while its lower end is pivotally connected to the rear end of a longitudinally extending plunger I20. The free front end of this plunger projects forwardly in advance of the w front of the buggy and is normally retained in this position by a spring I2I having one end thereof connected to the frame of the buggy and I its other end secured adjacent the pivot point between the plunger and the rod I I9. The spring normally urges the plunger to its forward position with the latches H6 in operative engagement with the angle iron H8.

It will be observed that when the arm H5 is in its upright latched position the pole supporting cross bar I22 is at a higher level than the top of the wheels 'I I3. The bar I22 is also higher than the pole receiving portions of the wheels I3 and Il in order that the pole as it is moved for wardly will initially be supported above the feed wheels. That is, the pole will be placed upon the buggies II and I2 with sufficient overhang to overlie the wheels I6 and I! as the truck [32 moves into close proximity to the frame I0. With the pole in this position, the buggy I2 will move forwardly until the free end of the plunger I20 contacts the frame. This will move the rod H9 rearwardly against the tension of the spring I2I and release the latches H6 from the cross bar H8. The arm H5 will then drop forwardly and downwardly to the full line position away from the pole and permit the pole to come into contact with the feed wheels 16 and I1. As the pole is fed through the machine the front end will eventually move over and come into contact with the wheels I23 of the truck I4. These wheels, as shown in Figure 12, are of greater height than the pole supporting block I24 of the buggy I3 so that the pole will not come into contact with the block I24 until it passes en A downwardly extending rod H9 has its upper end rigidly connected to the tirely out of engagement with the wheels I6 and I1. At this time the log will be completely debarked. It will be apparent that after the front of the pole comes into engagement with the wheels Q23, the buggy I4 will gradually move forwardly with the log so that by the time the end of the pole is engaged by the block I24, the bu gy 14 will be a substantial distance from the buggy I3. This action takes place in reverse order as the pole is being fed to the machine. That is, the buggies I2 and II support the front and rear end of the log and initially are spaced apart substantially the length of the log or pole, with the buggy II gradually moving toward the buggy I2 as the pole is being fed through the machine.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, the-numeral I25 designates a belt tightener having a stub I26 clamped in a collar I21, and passing into the casing 20 where it terminates in an eccentric arm I28. A belt engaging pulley I29 is mounted on this arm and is adapted to take up any slack in the belt 39 when necessary. This is accomplished by loosening the screw I30, which permits rotation of the stub and arm I28. The collar I2! is suitably carried by a plate I3I mounted on the support 26. Means are also provided to permit adjustment of the wheel I! with respect to the wheel I6. This is accomplished by mounting the hub I32 of the wheel in plates I33, each of which is adjustably mounted on the exterior of one of the casing Walls 20 by means of bolts I34 engaging in slots I35.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings and described in the specification, and that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

We claim:

1. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a balanced cutter support pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, a cutter mounted adjacent the front of said support and adapted to be moved into cutting engagement with a pole being fed through the machine, spring means connected to the under side of said cutter support in advance of its connection to the frame, a shaft mounted on said frame and having an arm connected to said spring, and means for rotating said shaft for initially moving the cutter into contact with a pole and then applying spring pressure to said cutter to hold the latter against the pole during the cutting operation.

2. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a balanced cutter support pivotally mounted intermediate its ends 011 said frame, a cutter mounted on said support and adapted to be moved into cutting engagement with a pole being fed through the machine, operating means for said cutter support comprising an arm pivotally mounted on said frame below said cutter support and in advance of its point of connection to the frame, a telescoping member having one section pivoted to the under side of the cutter support and its other section pivoted to said arm, a spring extending substantially parallel to and connecting said sections to normally maintain them in telescoped position, and an operating handle associated with said pivoted arm for initially moving the cutter into contact with a pole and then applying spring pressure to said cutter to hold the latter against the pole during the cutting operation.

3. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a balanced cutter support pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, a cutter mounted on said support and adapted to be moved into cutting engagement with a pole being fed through the machine, operating means for said cutter connections between said telescoping sections and arm and cutter support including a pair of rods,

each extending upon opposite sides of its respective section, a pair of coil springs each extending between said rods and located on one side of the member to normally maintain said sections in telescoped position, and an operating handle associated with said pivoted arm for initially moving the cutter into contact with a pole and then applying spring pressure to said cutter to hold the latter against the pole during the cutting 10 operation.

JAMES D. TAYLOR. WALLACE E. JONES. 

